West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta.
West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta.
Match

West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta faces two new FA charges

Harri Burton
Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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West Ham star Lucas Paqueta has been hit with two new FA charges in his betting case, according to The Sun.

The newspaper reported via its website [8 October] that the FA kept the player's phone for a total of eight weeks to analyse his call logs, messages and bank records, which he cannot now locate.

The FA returned to the Brazilian for further access to his phone as part of the investigation, but as a result of not being able to find it, he has been accused of obstructing their probe.

Paqueta was originally accused of being deliberately booked in the Premier League against Leicester City, Aston Villa, Leeds United and Bournemouth, and now has two aggravated breaches for non-cooperation to his name.

Lucas Paqueta faces new charges at West Ham United

Paqueta has protested his innocence ever since the FA opened its investigation last May, and he remains innocent until proven guilty.

While the Hammers are frustrated by the player's hearing being set for March, as per The Sun [6 October], taking place during the Premier League season, it is unlikely to take any effect this season.

Although the creative force has not been at his best so far this term, he is one of the most important players at Julen Lopetegui's disposal, one who can burst into life at any moment.

He grabbed his first goal of the season during the Irons' 4-1 win over Ipswich Town on Saturday 5 October, providing the finish to a five-goal thriller at the London Stadium.

With the investigation likely to trundle on until the summer, fans will only become more and more concerned by the player's situation, and this latest news will not help in the slightest.

In other West Ham news, Jeff Stelling has shared a two-word verdict after the Hammers were questioned live on air.

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West Ham United
Lucas Paqueta
The FA
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